Electrically heated bellows motor



June 20, 1950 G. c. MOLOTZAK ELECTRICALLY HEATED BELLOWS MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 28, 1947 I/ll/l/I/II/I/l////////////// IIIIIIIII Inventor George C. Molofzak By WWW III III Ill Fig. I.

June 20, 1950 G. c. MOLOTZAK ELECTRICALLY HEATED BELLOWS MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28. 1947 Inventor George C. Molofzak Patented June 20, 1950 a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,512,212 ELECTRICALLY HEATED BELLOWS MOTOR I George C. Molotzak, Coaldale, Pa.

Application May 28, 1947, Serial No. 751,095 I 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improved heat motor device of the type comprising a closed liquid system including intercommunicating heating and working chambers, a working liquid in said system, electrical heating means for heating the liquid in said heating chamber, and means for intermittently cutting said heating means off and on in response to the heating and cooling of said liquid. In prior devices of this kind, the heating means has been a heating element in heat-interchanging relation to the heating chamber. An object of my invention, however, is to provide a heating chamber which also constitutes the heating element. In the preferred embodiment, the com-- bined heating chamber and heating element forms the secondary winding of a transformer in which current is induced from the primary winding of the transformer, and means is provided for intermittently cutting the primary winding oil and on in response to the heating and cooling of the liquid in the system.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a heat motor device of the above kind which is comparatively simple in construction, efiicient in operation, and otherwise well adapted to meet with the requirements for successful commercial use.

The exact nature of the present invention, as well as more specific objects and features thereof, will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a heat motor embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a modification; and

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates a suitable casing within and upon the bottom of which is mounted a housing 6 through the top of which slidably extends a vertical rod or workperforming element 1 which may also slidably project through the top of the casing 5, as at 8.

The invention includes a closed liquid system which is shown as embodying a fluid pressure motor in the form of a metallic bellows 9 mountt the p of bellows 9 and the top of housin a I for normally yieldingly collapsing the bellows 9. The liquid system further includes a hollow heating coil I'll having its ends connected in communication with each other, as at H, and with the interior of bellows 9, as at l2. The coil I0 is made of electrical conducting material, such as copper, and it constitutes the secondary winding of a transformer having a laminated core l3 and a primary winding Hi. The circuit of the primary winding I4 is controlled by a switch so as to be intermittently cut off and on in response to the heating and cooling of the liquid in the system composed of elements 9 to l2, inclusive. As shown, a mercury switch element l 5 is carried by one arm of a bell crank lever l6 pivotally mounted at l! upon a bracket [8 mounted on top of the housing 6, the other arm of lever It being extended between spaced pins is carried by and projecting laterally from the rod 1. The arrangement is such that when rod 1 moves upwardly, the lower pin I9 will actuate lever 5 so as to tilt switch element l5 and open the circuit 01' primary winding l4. Also, when the rod 1 lowers, the upper pin l9 will engage lever l6 and move switch element [5 so as to close the circuit of coil i4. When the fluid in the system is heated, bellows 9 is expanded to cause the upward movement of rod 1, and when the liquid in the system cools, rod 7 is lowered by spring "1'. Rod 1 is suitably connected to the device to be operated, and the pins l9 are adjustable longitudinally of rod 1 toward or away from each other to predetermine the amount of movement of rod 1 which is necessary to cause actuation of switch element l5. Naturally, this predetermines the length of stroke of rod 1.

The circuit of primary winding I4 is also preferably controlled by a manually operable switch 29 mounted in one wall of easing 5, so that the motor may be rendered inoperative whenever the same is not required for use.

In operation, the parts will be positioned as shown under normal temperature conditions so that the circuit of primary winding I4 is closed. Current is induced from winding I4 into 0011 I9, and the induced current causes heating of coil l0 due to the fact that the same is short clrcuited. This heats the liquid in coil l9 and causes such liquid to expand, thereby expanding bellows 9 and causing upward movement of rod 1 until the switch l5, i6 is actuated to open the circuit of winding I 4. As soon as the latter happens, heating of the liquid discontinues and the liquid is allowed to cool so as to permit the spring ID to collapse the bellows 9 and move the rod 1 downwardly. Downward movement of rod I actuates the switch l5, It so as to again close the circuit of winding M. This cycle of operation continues as long as switch 20 is closed.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 4, the rod 1 may have an elongated longitudinal slot 2! through which reduced ends of the pins 19 extend, said reduced ends having nuts 22 threaded thereon so as to secure the pins (9 in different positions of adjustment.

Both forms of the invention are alike except that, in the form of Figure 1, the rod 1 is formed with rack teeth 23 meshing with the teeth of a spur gear or gear segment 24 suitably journaled in the upper portion of casing 5. Also, a second rod 25 slidably extends through a side of casing 5 at the top of the latter and is provided at its inner end with rack teeth 26 also meshing with the teeth of gear or gear segment 24. It will thus be evident that the form of the invention shown in Figure 1 is utilized where horizontal movement of the actuated device is required, said device being operatively connected to rod 25. On the other hand, the form of Figure 3 is used where vertical movement of the actuated device is required, such lows, a vertically reciprocable rod connected at its lower end to the top of said bellows and adapted to be operatively connected to a device to be operated, spaced guides for said rod, an electrical heater for the liquid in said bellows, said rod having a longitudinal elongated slot, spaced pins carried by and projecting laterally from said rod, said pins having reduced ends extending through said slot and having nuts threaded thereon to secure the pins in different positions of adjustment longitudinally of the rod and relative to each other, a bellcrank lever pivotally mounted adjacent the rod and having one arm extending upwardly' and another arm projecting between and in the path of said pins, and a mercury switch fixed to said one arm and connected in circuit with said heater for rendering said heater inoperative and operative respectively upon predetermined expansion and predetermined contraction of said bellows.

GEORGE C. MQLOTZAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 652,601 Dodds June 26, 1900 1,402,021 Snelling Jan. 3, 1922 1,414,448 Windell May 2, 1922 1,603,593 Goodhue et a1. Oct. 19, 1926 1,942,040 Wolfi Jan. 2, 1934 2,054,205 Palmer -c Sept. 15, 1936 2,060,039 Clapp Nov. 10, 1936 2,433,493 Turner Dec. 30, 194'? 

